Bullet-resisting structure



Oct. 1, 1935. c. D. OKIEFFE BULLET RESISTING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 9, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l C. D. OKIEFFE BULLET RESISTING STRUCTURE Oct. 1', 1935.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, V1953 flow/a ar Cfiarie: 13. 097229955 VLfzg Z2219 Afforoeyd V M 2'8 E -Jo Oct. 1, 1935. c. D. OKIEFFE BULLET RESISTING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 9, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fro m n afar Cfiarlay 12. 01b z'e/f 7IIIIIII"IIII/'/ Patented Oct. 1 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 9, 1933, Serial N0. 684,318

mit free travel of sound therethrough they cut.

off a direct opening or openings in the structure through which a bullet may be fired. 7

To the above end, generally stated, the inventionconsists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring tothe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary frontelevatio-n showing one form of the improved bullet-resisting structure;

Fig. 2 is a View in vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view in horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

Fig. 5is a view principally in rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the lower metal panels removed from the structure;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one i of the horizontal rails and one of the seats for the respective upper glass panel, the side member of said seat being segregated; and

Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and IZ'arefragmentaryvieWs in horizontalsection'showing various modifications of the bullet-resisting structure.

The numeral I2 indicates a counter which forms part of a tellers cage or enclosure in a banking room or the like and which counter extends to the floor and'has a relatively'wide top. This counter I2 if made of wood or other nonbullet resisting material will be lined or otherwise reinforced with a bullet-resisting material, not shown.

Mounted on thecounter I2 is a bullet-resisting partition or structure which includes a frame comprising posts l3, bottom rails I4, top rails I5 and intermediate rails I6. This structure further includes lower metal panels I1 upper glass panels I8; anda wicket I9. The lower panels I! are mounted between the posts I3, theb'ottom rails I4 and the intermediate rails l6, and the upper panels I8are mounted betweenthe'posts I3, the top railsl5 and the intermediate rails I6. Between two of the-posts I3, the bottom rail I4 is omitted and the wicket I9 is mounted in the space between said posts. It will be noted that the intermediate rail I5, above the wicket I9 is relatively close to the overlying top rail I5 and that the other intermediate rails Itare relatively close to the bottom rails I4.

The wicket I9 includes a glass insert 2i), a voice panel 21 oneach side of said insert, a deal tray 22, gun ports 23, and a voice panel 2 between the insert 20 and the deal tray 22. It may be here stated that the panels I8 and insert 25 are each formed, as shown, from a single piece of bullet-resisting glass.

The construction of the posts I3, the rails I4 55 and I6 and the mounting of the panels IT and I8 therein is such as to leave voice or sound openings that extend through said posts and rails at and around the perimeter s" of the panels I? and I8. These voice or sound openings not only permit persons on opposite sides of the structure to converse in ordinary tones but they Each post I3 is also fabricated and includes a vertical tie-rod 28 and the tie-rods of the several posts I3 extendthrough aligned holes in the top of the counter I2 and the webs of the channel bars 25 of the several rails I a, I5 and I 6. The intermediate rails is and the top rails I5 are held vertically spaced from each other and from the bottom rails I5, which rest on the top of the counter I2; by spacing sleeves 29 telescoped onto the tie-rods 23.- Washers and nuts 39 applied to theends of the tie-rods 28 anchor said rods to thecounter I2 and hold the channel bars 25 and spacing sleeves 29 clamped together.

Each post I3 further includes a face plate 3| and a back plate 32 secured to the outer and inner flanges of said bars, respectively. Formed with the upper edges of the back plates 21 of the bottom rails I4 and the intermediate rails it are inturnedbaflies33 and like bafiies, having the same reference numeral, are formed on the lower edges of the back plates 2'! of the top rails Illand the back plates 32 of the posts I3.

The panels I? are secured by screws 34 and apertured lugs 35 to the channel'bars 25 of the bottom and intermediate rails it and It, respectively', andsaid lugs35 areformedwiththe upper and lower edge portionsof the panels I? at the corners thereof. On the vertical edges of the panels H are laterally and inwardly projecting flanges that afford-bafiies' 36. The panels IT; at

their upper and lower edge portions, are cut away to form voice or sound openings 31. It is important to note that the panels I1 and I8 at their perimeters, extend into the posts I3 and rails I4, I5 and I9, are spaced therefrom to form circuitous passages through said posts and rails and around the panels. These circuitous passages lead from one side of the structure to the other and cut off direct openings therethrough.

The width of the baflles 36 is substantially the same as the thickness of. the glass panels I8 and the purpose thereof is to reduce the space between the face and back plates of the posts I3 and leave openings of substantially the same width as between said glass panels and the respective face and back plates. Each panel I8 is removably mounted in four recessed lugs. 38 secured to the channel bars 25 of the top rails I5 and intermediate rails I6. These lugs 38 hold the panels I3 against movement in all directions and each lug 38 has a removable side, see Fig. '7. As shown, each panel I8 is mounted in a rectangular metallic frame 39 that is channel-shaped in cross-section but if desirable, this frame may be dispensed with. 4

The wicket I9 is held in place by lugs 45 with its vertical edge portions extending into the adjacent posts I3 and its upper horizontal edge portion extending into the overlying intermediate rail I6 and which wicket is laterally spaced from the respective face and back plates. The spacing of the wicket I9 in the posts I3 and the respective rail I5 is such as to form circuitous passages therethrough. These circuitous passages lead from one side of the structure to the other and cut off direct openings therethrough.

Obviously; the panels I8, wicket I9, spacing sleeves 29, and bafiles 39 out off direct passages obliquely through the posts I3 from one side of the structure to the other and the channel bars 25 cut off direct passages obliquely through the rails I4, I5 and I5 from one side of the structure to the other. The baflles 33 on the posts I3 and the rails l4, I5 and I6 prevent bullets from ricocheting when fired into said posts or rails from the front of the structure.

In the structure shown in Fig. 8 the numeral 4I .indicates a bullet-resisting partition having a wicket opening 42 over a counter, not shown, and in which opening is mounted a wicket 43 comprising two hollow posts 44 and a transparent insert 45 of bullet-resisting glass therebetween. The opposing faces of the two posts 44 are open and the outer sides thereof are in substantially the same plane while the inner sides thereof are in outwardly converging relation; The vertical edge portions of the insert 45 extend into the posts 44 at their open faces substantially midway between the sides thereof. This mounting of the insert 45 laterally offsets the same toward the inside of the partition 4I, thus leaving considerable space on the counter in front of the wicket 43 for a customer.

The mounting of the insert 45 with its vertical edge portions extending into the posts 44, at their openfaces, forms circuitous voice or sound passages through the posts 44 that cuts off direct openings therethrough from one side of the partition 4! to the other. The glass insert 45 is mounted in a rectangular metal frame 46 that is channel-shaped in cross-section but in some instances it might be desirable to dispense with this frame.

A lining 41 of sponge rubber or other relatively soft material is applied to the inner surfaces of the back and inner side of each post 44 to prevent a bullet fired into said post from the front thereof from ricocheting. The exposed surfaces of the lining 41 are covered with sheet bronze 48 or other suitable material. On the outer vertical edges of the inner side of each post 44 is a flange-like baffle 49 that projects toward the insert 45. The purpose of the ba files 49 is to further prevent bullets fired into the posts 44 from the front thereof from ricocheting.

The openings between the backs of the posts 44 and the vertical edges of the insert 45, at the front thereof, are each covered with a grill 59 and the openings between the baffies 49 and the inner sides of the insert 45 are each covered with a grill 5|.

As shown, the face plates of the several posts and rails are formed from extruded metal to reinforce the same and give the frame structure an artistic appearance. Fig. 9, is the sam as the wicket 43 except the glass insert 53 is not mounted in a frame.

Referring now to the wicket 54, shown in Fig. 10, the numeral 55 indicates a bullet-resisting partition having a wicket opening 55 in which the wicket 54 is mounted. This wicket 54 includes two hollow posts 51, only one of which is shown, and a transparent insert 58 formed from a piece of bullet-resisting glass mounted between said posts. Each post 5? is square in cross-section and the opposing faces of the two posts 51 are open.

The insert 58 is mounted in a metallic frame 59 that is channel-shaped in cross-section and which frame extends outwardly from the face of the post 57 midway between the sides thereof. A grill 65 covers the opening between the outer side of the post 51 and the outer face of the frame 59.

In Fig. 8 additional space on the counter, in front of the wicket 43, is obtained by distorting the posts 44 to offset the insert 45 and additional space on the counter, in front of the wicket 54 is obtained by bodily inwardly offsetting the posts 44 with respect to the partition 55.

Fig. 11 shows a novel post 5| between two panels 62 which, as shown, are each formed from a piece of bullet-resisting glass. This post SI includes two upright channel bars 63, the backs of which are turned toward each other and laterally spaced. The two panels 52, which are in a the same plane, have their adjacent vertical edge portions mounted in the channel bars 53. Directly back of the post BI on the inside of the structure is a baffle 54 in the form of. a wide and shallow upright channel bar that extends transversely of the bars 53 and is laterally spaced therefrom. The baffle 64 is directly back of the opening between the bars 53 and extends for a considerable distance on each side thereof with its flanges turned toward the post 5|. The spaces between the bars 93 and between the said bars and the baffle 54, form a circuitous voice or sound passage that extends from one side of the panels 62 to the other and cuts off a direct opening therethrough.

The bullet-resisting structure shown in Fig. 12 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 11, with the exception that the channel bars 55 of the posts 66 are spaced farther apart and a second baflle 6'! is mounted therebetween. In this structure the baflle, which corresponds to the baffle 64, and the glass panels are designated by the numerals 68 and 69, respectively. The

The wicket 52, shown in baffle 61 is T-shaped in cross-section and its body extends toward the baille 68.

From the above description it is evident that all of the voice or sound openings through the posts and rails of the frame structure cut off direct openings that lead from one side of the structure to the other and prevent a bullet from being fired therethrough.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, the panels whether mounted in a frame or not act as baffles that cut off direct openings through the posts and rails of the frame structure.

If a bullet is fired into either of the posts 44, it will be embedded in the relatively soft material 41 which prevents the same from ricocheting.

What I claim is:

l. A structure of the class described having a member provided with a circuitous voice passage leading from one side of the structure to the otherand cutting off a direct opening therethrough, and a thick relatively soft non-metallic material in said member at one side of the passage.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 which further includes a thin relatively soft metal covering for said non-metallic material.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a post member, a pair of top rails and a pair of bottom rails, said pairs of rails having at one of their ends apertures through which the post member extends, a spacing device on the post member holding the rails of the toppair spaced above the rails of the bottom pair, a panel mounted between the rails of each pair and held thereby, the panels at one of their vertical edges being spaced from the post memher to leave a voice opening between the post member and each panel, and a plate spaced outwardly of the post member and the panels and cutting off a direct passage through the voice openings. I V

4. A structure of the class described comprising a'post member, a pair of top rails and a pair of bottom rails, said pairs of rails having at one of their ends apertures through which the post member extends, a spacing device on the post member holding the rails of the top pair spaced above the rails of the bottom pair, a panel mounted between the rails of each pair and held thereby, the panels at one of their vertical edges being spaced from the post member to leave a ing a post member, a top rail and a bottom rail secured to the post member, a panel between the rails and held thereby, said panel at one of its vertical edges being spaced from the post member to leave a voice opening therebetween, and

a plate spaced outwardly of the post member and the panel and cutting off a direct passage through the voice opening. 7

6. A structure of the class described compris ing a post member, a top rail and a bottom rail secured to the post member, a panel between the rails and held thereby, said panel at one of its ivertical edges being spaced from the post member to leave a voice opening therebetween, and a plate on each side of the post member and the panel spaced outwardly thereof and cutting off a direct passage through the voice opening from either side of the structure.

7. A structure of the class described comprising a post member, a pair of top rails and a pair of bottom rails, the rails of each pair at one of their ends being secured to the post member, a panel between the rails of each pair and held thereby, the panels at one of their vertical edges being spaced from the post member to leave voice openings therebetween, and a plate spaced outwardly of the post member and the panels and cutting off a direct passage through either of the voice openings.

8. A structure of the class described comprising a post member, a pair of top rails and a pair of bottom rails, the rails of each pair at one of their ends being secured to the post member, a panel between the rails of each pair and held thereby, the panels at one of their vertical edges being spaced from the post member to leave voice openings therebetween, and a plate on each side of the post member and panels, spaced outward thereof and cutting off a direct passage through the voice openings from either side of the structure.

9. A structure of the class described including a hollow post having an open face, and a panel extending at one of its edge portions into the post of the post being in outwardly diverging relation 4 to the plane of the panel and cutting off a direct opening through the structure between the post and the panel, and a non-metallic means in the post on the back and diverging side thereof to prevent a bullet fired into the post from ricoo cheting.

11. A structure of the class described including a partition having a wicket opening, a counter below said opening, and a wicket in the opening comprising two hollow posts, the opposing faces of which are open, and a transparent insert between the posts extending into the open faces thereof substantially midway between the sides of the posts and cutting off direct openings between the posts and the insert, one of the sides of the posts being in outward diverging relation to the plane of the partition and in relative converging relation, said diverging sides laterally offsetting the insert from the plane of the partition to increase the working space on the counter on the opposite side of the insert from the converging sides of the posts, said insert being spaced from the internal surfaces of the posts to'leave voice openings between the posts and the insert.

CHARLES D. OKIEFFE.

' at its open face and spaced from the internal surfaces of said post to leave a voice opening- 

